All Rise...

Editor's Note

The Charge

Krook: [about Nemo] They say he sold his soul to the Devil. If he has, I
don't know what he did with the money.

Opening Statement

I first heard of Bleak House because my X-Files-fan friends
were buzzing about Gillian Anderson appearing in a British series. The idea of
Special Agent Dana Scully dressed in Victorian corsets seemed to excite them to
no end. Also of note was that the script was written by the same scribe who had
penned the "Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy" mini-series version of Pride
and Prejudice, Andrew Davies. So I was interested to see what all the hubbub
was about.

Facts of the Case

A never-ending court battle over a will begins, and three young people
searching for a place in the world are swept up in a drama that makes soap
operas seem simple. The BBC has taken each installment of Charles Dickens'
serial novel Bleak House and created 15 half-hour episodes. On DVD it's
going to take you nearly eight hours to get through the series, but look on the
bright side. When the show aired in England, people had to wait a week in
between each half-hour installment. In addition to the famed Jarndyce vs.
Jarndyce estate case, there's a murder with infinite suspects, a smallpox scare,
a dark secret to hide, three marriage proposals, and an orphan's realization of
who she is. It's a journey through the damned and the blessed of Dickens'
London.

The Evidence

The cast is huge and the plot is sprawling, yet somehow Bleak House
achieves the impossible. It sucks you in from the opening scene, and never lets
go until the final episode credits roll. Be very careful of this series, and
plan to do little else other than obsess about it for as long as you take to
watch it. Each episode ends in a maddening cliffhanger, so you might find
yourself constantly saying "just one more, damn it."

Over forty different actors are featured in the production, many of them
familiar faces from BBC dramas over the years. Most people come in looking for
Gillian Anderson as Lady Dedlock. The actress from Chicago pulls off a flawless
English accent, and looks as great as you can imagine in the period dress and
hair. She's dark and severe, and dances through Bleak House as if to the
manor born. All of the acting is impeccable, and period details are spot on.
Esther is played refreshingly by Anna Maxwell Martin (North and South).
Charles Dance (Gosford Park) makes for a
wickedly cool Mr. Tulkinghorn. And Star Wars fans will be interested to
see Denis Lawson (Ewan MacGregor's uncle) play someone other than Wedge
Antilles.

The best thing about Bleak House is that, for an eight-hour costume
drama, it books along with the pace of a well-timed Die Hard film. Despite having the luxury
of the mini-series format on its side, it has to advance the plot at a maddening
pace to get it all out there on the screen. Don't expect one of these somber
leisurely paced Masterpiece Theatre affairs—this one is like Twin Peaks on steroids funneled back a few
centuries. Think Dynasty meets A Tale of Two Cities, and you're
there in Bleak House.

This is actually the second time Bleak House has been adapted for the
small screen by Masterpiece Theatre. Originally, back in 1985, Diana Rigg
played Lady Dedlock, but this version trumps its forerunner. It's a darker and
more serpentine treatment, using better editing and modern tricks to tart up the
source material. The truth is Bleak House seems oddly liberal with its
views on the appalling treatment of the poor by the rich in England. It should
resonate with anyone who thinks the system only serves to make people more
desperate than they should be at every turn.

The technical transfer is quite strong. A nice widescreen transfer fits
perfectly on your 16:9 widescreen television screen, or letterboxes artfully on
your 4:3. It looks beautiful with a deliciously dreary shadowy murk that never
lets up. Colors are rich, and look like a master painting come to life. The
visual treatment of the show is sumptuous, and the DVD preserves this quite
well. The stereo sound mix is serviceable, though I do regret they passed up the
chance to provide a more full surround mix.

The Rebuttal Witnesses

The only thing missing in this handsome package are extras. It would be
interesting to see how the production came to be, and hear from the participants
who brought the whole thing to life. Unfortunately, we are not graced with such
insider information, or even treated to a measly commentary. I applaud the
opportunity to have the entire series at my fingertips, but I wish I could
plunge further in to the production. Pity they withheld such things from us.

Closing Statement

If you're searching for a stylish British mini-series with gorgeous
production values, tight acting, and a chance to see Scully in another era,
Bleak House is the must-buy DVD of the year. It's quite addictive,
maddeningly paced, and entertaining. It puts a decidedly modern twist on a
classic piece of literature, and proves the best soap operas in the world are
centuries old. Forget all about General Hospital—Bleak House
is far more sudsy and satisfying.

The Verdict

Guilty of making me want to walk around with an English accent and pretend to
be the heir of a long sought after fortune, Bleak House proves how much
fun Masterpiece Theatre can be.